Lifting tool for missiles



May 16, 1961 Filed July 24, 1959 R. E. NEARMAN LIFTING TOOL FOR MISSILES 2 Sheets-Sheet ll.

INVENTOR R/c/mm E. Newman .6 cum ATTORNEYS y 1961 R. E. NEARMAN 2,984,513

LIFTING TOOL FOR MISSILES Filed July 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ric/2 0rd 5. Newman ATTORNEYS hie 2,984,513 Patented May 16, 1961 LIFTING TOOL FOR MISSILES Richard E. Nearman, Rockville, Md., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed July 24, 1959, Ser. No. 829,476

6 Claims. (Cl. 294-67) The present invention relates generally to weapon component handling devices and more particularly to an improved lifting tool.

One of the more important objects of the invention is to provide a lifting tool which, when used in conjunction with a suitable hoist, will function for lifting various sections or components of an aerial missile, or the booster therefor, to convenient positions for testing, other operations.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a lifting tool which will permit full 360-degree rotation of a missile component or booster suspended thereon, to facilitate work on such component or booster.

As further objects, the invention provides a lifting tool which will be self-centering on the component and attach thereto with a minimum of alignment, and that will, when attached to the component, leave all surfaces thereof free and unobstructed, except at the point of attachment.

And still further objects of the invention are to provide a tool for the purpose set forth that will be simple and rugged in construction, and one that will be light in weight and readily maneuverable.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the invention in position for engagement with a missile component;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation showing the head of the tool with a missile component engaging adapter thereon, a portion of the adapter being broken away and shown in section to illustrate one of the latch fingers employed;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the head of the tool;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged axial section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing construction.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the views, the numeral indicates generally a supporting beam. The beam 10 includes a straight section 11 and a curved section 12, the section 12 being curved, or bent, through substantially 90 degrees. A suitable attaching plate 13 is secured to the free end of the curved section 12, and a clip 14, for engagement by a hoist chain hook 15, is adjustably mounted on the straight section 11.

-As best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, a cylindrical head 16 is secured to the attaching plate 13 by bolts 17. Referring to Fig. 4, a cylindrical housing 18 is rotatably mounted in the head by bearings 19 and 20, and is provided with fore and aft end walls 21 and 22. The wall 21 is formed with an axially positioned outwardly projecting cylindrical cam sleeve 23 having a frusto-oonical outer end wall 24 thereon. Said wall 21 is also formed with openings adjacent the sleeve, said openings being preferably three a modified adapter assembly, or

' missile booster.

in number and arranged in a circumferentially spaced series. One of the openings is shown at 25.

Extending axially of the housing 18 is a threaded follower shaft 26. The shaft 26 is rotatably mounted in the housing by bearings 27 and 28, and one end of said shaft projects outwardly from the aft wall 22 to receive thereon a handwheel 29. Mounted in the housing for axial movement on the follower shaft 26 is a follower plate 30, rotation of the follower plate being prevented by a key 31 that is movable in a slot 32 in the cylindrical wall of the housing. Rotation of the handwheel 29 will advance the plate 30 toward the fore wall 21 or retract said plate toward the aft wall 22.

Mounted on the follower plate 30 and extending through the openings 25 are latch fingers, one of which is shown at 33. More specifically, each of the latch fingers 33 is of generally T-shape, being formed with a head 34 having curved rear walls 35 and a tapered shank 36, the shank being pivotally connected to the follower plate by a pin 37 which is carried by a bolt 38. A spring 39 normally urges the shank 36 and head 34 toward the cam sleeve 23. The bolt 38 carries a safety latch rod 40 that extends rearwardly in the housing 18 and carries a latch member 41 having an annular groove 42, the latch member extending through the aft wall 22. 43, for engagement in the groove 42, is: mounted in a latch housing 44 secured to the outer face of the wall 22. The plunger is normally urged into the groove 42 by a spring 45, but may be lifted out of said groove by manually engaging a handle 46 on the outer end of said plunger.

The lifting tool comprising the subject matter of the present invention may be used for handling a Quadpac" or a Tripac (assembled missile components), or a However, adapters of slightly difierent configurations are required for the different jobs. In Fig. 2 the lifting tool is shown with a missile component adapter 52 thereon. The adapter shown in Fig. 2 has a tapered cylindrical body 53 and a base 54, the base being provided with an inwardly directed mounting flange 55. Suitable component attaching devices are shown at 56.

described.

First the handwheel 29 is rotated in one direction, 9

conical wall 24. The desired adapter, 52 or 57, may then be placed about the fingers with the mounting flange 55 in engagement with the inner walls 35 of the heads. Counter-rotation of the handwheel will retract the fingers and, by the action of the sleeve 23, expand them for centering the adapter on the fore wall 21. Further retraction of the fingers will tightly secure the adapter against the fore wall 21 of the housing, as shown in Fig 2. The aforesaid retraction of the fingers will also move the latch member 41 through the aft wall 22, whereupon the plunger 43 will be moved into the groove 42 for preventing further movement of the plate 30 as best shown on Fig. 4. Accidental release of the fingers, with consequent separation of the adapter from the head 16, will thus be prevented. When the desired adapter is in position the tool may be quickly attached to a missile component or booster.

Substitution of adapters may be easily effected by lifting the plunger 43 from the groove 42 and rotating the handwheel 29, when the follower plate 30 will be advanced for releasing the grip of the fingers on the adapter flange 55 and freeing the adapter for quick removal.

Obviously many modifications are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A lifting tool including a beam having a straight portion, and an end portion curved through ninety degrees, a cylindrical head secured to the free end of the curved end portion and having its axis parallel to the axis of the straight portion, an adapter having a mounting flange, and means carried by the head for detachably securing the adapter to the head, said adapter being engageable with a missile conmponent, said means including a plurality of annularly spaced fingers, a follower plate mounting the fingers, a cam sleeve engageable by the fingers, a follower shaft mounting the follower plate, and a hand wheel for rotating the shaft for shifting the follower plate and engaging the fingers with the mounting flange of the adapter, said shaft being counter-rotatable for moving the fingers along the cam sleeve and clamping the adapter mounting flange against the head.

2. A lifting tool including a beam having a straight portion and a curved end portion, a head secured to the curved end portion, an adapter having a mounting flange, latch means in the head and movable into engagement with the mounting flange for securing the adapter to the head and movable out of engagement with the mounting flange to release the adapter from the head, said adapter being engageable with a missile component, and means including a hand wheel operatively connected to said latch means for controlling the movement of the latch means into and out of engagement with the mounting flange.

3. A lifting tool including a supporting beam having a straight portion and a curved end portion, a head secured to the curved end portion at its free end, said head being cylindrical and having a housing rotatable therein, an adapter having a mounting flange, means including a plurality of latch fingers for detachably securing the adapter to the housing, a follower plate slidably mounted in the housing and carrying said latch fingers, means including a threaded shaft mounted on said housing for slidably shifting the follower plate and engaging the fingers with the adapter, said adapter being engageable with a missile component for attaching said component to the tool, means including a latch rod connected with the plate and latch fingers for preventing accidental detachment of the adapter from the housing, and brake means carried by the head and engageable with the housing for locking the housing, adapter, and component in a desired attitude with respect to the supporting beam.

4. A lifting tool including a supporting beam having straight and curved sections, a cylindrical head on the curved section with its axis parallel to the axis of the straight section, a housing having fore and aft end walls, bearings rotatably mounting the housing in the head axially thereof, an adapter having a mounting flange, a follower shaft in the housing between the end walls and extending beyond the aft wall, a follower plate on the shaft in the housing, means preventing rotation of the follower plate on the shaft, latch fingers on the follower plate, a cam sleeve on the fore end wall and engageable by the fingers, said fingers being engageable with the adapter mounting flange, and a handwheel connected with the follower shaft for rotating the same, rotation of the follower shaft moving the follower plate and fingers whereby said fingers will move on said camsleeve for clamping the adapter mounting flange against the fore end wall, said adapter being engageable with a missile component assembly or booster for connecting such assembly or booster to the tool.

5. A lifting tool as recited in claim 4, including additionally a safety latch comprising a rod carried by the follower plate, a latch member on the rod and extending through the aft wall, said latch member having a groove, and a spring-pressed plunger on the aft wall and engageable in the-groove, said safety latch securing the follower plate with the latch fingers engaging the adapter mounting flange.

6. A lifting tool as recited in claim 5, including additionally a brake for securing the housing in a desired attitude with respect to the head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 346,310 ONeill July 27, 1886 1,115,106 Ramage Oct. 27, 1914 1,617,672 Delany Feb. 15, 1927 2,903,293 Palmer Sept. 8, -9 

